Apparatus for handling and transporting molten metal



L. PERAS 3,003,206 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING MOLTEN METAL Oct. 10, 1961 Filed Oct. 26, 1959 3,003,206 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND TRAN PORTING MOLTEN METAL Lucien Pras, Billancourt, France, assignor to Regie Nationale des Usines Renault, Billancourt, France Filed Oct. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 848,711 Claims priority, application France Nov. 27, 1958 3 Claims. (Cl. 22--82) This invention relates to an apparatus adapted to be mounted on a lift truck, whether self-propelled or not, or the like, and to receive, transport and distribute molten metal at any desired points and in all directions in unprecedented conditions of rapidity and safety.

As a rule, the distribution of the liquid metal delivered by a furnace is limited to the surface swept by the suspension hook of a gantry crane or a pouring travelling bridge, or to the line defined by the permissible travel of a pulley-block suspended from an overhead runway, or to the path or circuit of a trolley or truck rolling on fixed rails on the floor.

When it is desired or necessary to depart from these limits, even in the case of a truck not compelled to follow a fixed course, loading and unloading operations, frequently dangerous and requiring the use of other hoisting devices, must be effected. Then, in many cases, molten metal must be taken in hand-carried, smaller ladles to complete the distribution after a relatively long time during which the metal has cooled more or less and may become useless.

It is the object of the arrangement according to this invention to eliminate the use of any auxiliary devices for hoisting and transporting metal which are slow in operation, limited in range, costly and frequently ill suited for the service contemplated, and to replace these inconvenient devices with a single, separate apparatus performing under the control of a single operator all the liquid metal handling steps required in foundry works.

With the apparatus according to this invention it is possible to take metal from the pouring spout of smelting furnaces irrespective of their height or accessibility, for they can be approached by this apparatus at any height, from the front, or from the left-hand or right-hand side, and from any angle between these three positions. Moreover, with this apparatus the liquid metal can be poured either into another furnace or directly into the casting moulds, or into the main furnace for recovering the metal remaining in the ladle. All these operations take place, like the taking of fresh metal from the furnace, irrespective of the heights and direction of access of the spouts or filling pits or cups of the receiving furnaces or moulds.

Other advantages and features characterizing this invention will appear as the following description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating diagrammatically by way of example a typical form of embodiment of an apparatus equipped with a frustoconical ladle and constructed according to the teachings of this invention. Of course, it would not constitute a departure from the principles and features of this invention to use a barrel-shaped ladle with side trunnions, or any other ladle arrangement. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows a side elevational view of the apparatus with the ladle in different positions; and

FIGURES 2a and 2b show a front view of the truck, as seen in the direction of the arrow F of FIG. 1, in two dilferent positions.

In the example illustrated in the drawings, the truck 1 is of the self-propelled type (although any other suitable type of truck may be used according to the specific conditions of operation contemplated) and carries a column States Patent O Patented Oct. 10, 1961 2 supporting the device for handling the ladle containing the molten metal. A bracket 3 is slidably mounted on the column 2 and responsive to any suitable control means, preferably hydraulic means. A fork 4 having symmetric oblique arms 5 is adapted to swivel about a vertical axis on the bracket 3. A hydro-mechanical system, for example of the type comprising a fluid-actuated cylinder 6 associated with a rack-and-pinion device, is provided for controlling the swivelling movements of the fork 4.

This fork 4 supports the ladle 7 through the intermediary of a ring 8 and a pair of trunnions 9 having a common horizontal axis located as close as possible to the pouring spout of the ladle. The ladle is prevented from moving out of the ring 8 by a bayonet-type locking device 10.

Links 11 are pivoted on the one hand on the ring 8 and on the other hand on adjustment rods 12 pivoted in turn on the lower ends of curved or bent links 13 having their upper ends pivotally mounted on a common horizontal pin 14 rigid with the fork pivot spindle. Both links 13 are adapted to be moved angularly about the pivot pin 14 under the control of a hydromechanical system such as a cylinder and rack-and-pinion device cornprising a pressure fluid operated cylinder designated by the reference numeral 15.

This assembly is adapted to accomplish the following movements and operations:

(1) Up and down movements of the ladle under the control of the bracket 3 which slides along the column 2;

(2) Swivelling the ladle for approaching the loading or unloading posts on the left-hand and right-hand side of the truck through a total angle of degrees by actuating the cylinder 6 controlling the swivelling of the fork 4;

(3) Tilting the ladle about a horizontal axis situated in the vicinity of the pouring spout, thereby avoiding any unduly high fall of metal during the pouring step and ensuring a greater precision when directing the jet of molten metal toward a cup having a relatively small inlet area. In fact, by actuating the cylinder 15 the links 13 are caused to pivot about the horizontal pin 14, and to carry along the ladle 7 through the intermediate rods 12 attached in turn to the links 11 pivoted on the ring 8, thus causing the ladle 8 to be tilted about the trunnions 9 of arms 5.

The obliqueness of the arms 5 of fork 4, by clearing the upper portion of the ladle, facilitate the filling and drossing operations, and the displacement of the pouring spout in relation to the truck sides.

The different controls for raising and lowering the bracket, swivelling the fork and tilting the ladle may be assembled at a properly selected point of the truck. In FIG. 2, the reference numeral 16 designates the flexible lines connecting the set of control levers 17 to the various cylinders.

In FIG. 1, the ladle is also shown in dotted lines in its tilted position and in chain-dotted lines in a higher position.

Of course, many modifications may be brought to the form of embodiment shown and described herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus mounted on a truck for transporting and distributing molten metal to any points and in any directions comprising a pouring ladle having a pouring spout, a metal ring in which the pouring ladle is supported, said ring having a forward part located under said pouring spout and a rear part opposite the pouring spout, a column supported by the truck, a bracket slidably mounted on the column for vertical adjustment, a fork mounted on the bracket for swiveling movement about a vertical axis, said fork having depending oblique arms directed away from said vertical axis, pivotal means between the forward part of the metal ring and the lower ends of said arms, the pivot axis of said pivotal means passing adjacent the pouring spout for swiveling movement about an horizontal axis, link means pivotally attached to the rear part of the ring, arm means pivotally attached to the upper end of the fork, connecting rod means extending between and connecting the arm means to tilt the ladle about a horizontal axis at the lowerend of the fork arms and means for swiveling the fork to rotate the ladle about a vertical axis.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein both of said last-named means include fluid operated cylinders.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivotal References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,507,583 Wellman May 16, 1950 2,682,350 Garrett June 29, 1954 2,756,888 Avery July 31, 1956 2,763,390 Vandemark Sept. 18, 1956 2,806,264 Keating Sept. 17, 1957 2,828,880 Perry Apr. 1, 1958 

